The University of Exeter Tevi and SWEEP projects invite you to join us online to explore business-led solutions to the pollinator decline problem and to showcase innovative businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly tackling global problems at a local scale.

Wild pollinators are in decline, causing serious concern for the future health of our environment, population and economy. At the University of Exeter, we are committed to finding long-term solutions to enhance pollinators and their habitats by collaborating with businesses, landowners, governmental organisations and conservationists.

We will share recommendations from our Tevi ‘Challenge Network’ project bringing together businesses to explore emerging markets around local wildflower seed products and services to find solutions to the main driver of pollinator declines- habitat loss. We will share our report from our project along with case studies of the businesses involved in this Challenge Network which have informed our recommendations for business and policy to find in finding innovative solutions to a global problem.

The Tevi Challenge Network places Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly within the frontrunners of an increasingly international drive to integrate economic and environmental growth. Join us in discussing how a collaborative approach like this could be used to successfully implement business-led solutions to environmental challenges at a regional scale.

Programme

1:30 Welcome- Dr Grace Twiston-Davies (Impact Fellow, University of Exeter)

1:35 Keynote opening address TBC

1:50 Introduction to business-led solutions to the pollinator decline problem and the project team- Professor Stefano Pascucci (Professor of sustainability and circular economy, University of Exeter)

1:55 Video and summary of recommendations for business-led solutions to the pollinator decline problem

2:20 Interactive Q & A with the project team, Fay Kahane, Hugh St Aubyn, Grace Twiston-Davies, Stefano Pascucci

2:30 Interactive showcase of businesses and organisation focussing on environmental growth actions for pollinators and people.

2:45 Keynote closing address – Professor Juliet Osborne (Professor of pollination ecology, University of Exeter)

About the Tevi Challenge Network:

Tevi (Cornish for ‘grow’) is a collaborative project led by the University of Exeter, in partnership with Cornwall Council, Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Cornwall Development Company with the aim to simultaneously create both economic and environmental growth in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The Tevi Challenge Network on Local Seed for Plants, Pollinators and People is a regional multi-stakeholder initiative launched in early 2019 to facilitate innovative business-led solutions to mitigate against the main causes of the pollinator decline problem on a regional scale, contribute towards Cornwall’s Environmental Growth Strategy and the UK’s National Pollinator Strategy. Together we have created a report, which will be shared with the delegates which describes the Challenge Network pilot project provides case studies of the businesses involved to create recommendations for business and policy to tackle global problems at a local scale.

About the speakers-

Professor Juliet Osborne is a world expert in pollination ecology. Juliet’s research looks at how insects and plants interact within the environment, and their role in the provision of ecosystem services. Juliet is particularly interested in conserving and promoting bee populations, and protecting and promoting wild flower and crop pollination working with beekeepers, farmers and conservation organisations.

Professor Stefano Pascucci is an applied economist who developed an interest for sustainability as connected to organization theories, innovation management, and value chain analysis. His research focuses on agribusiness, sustainability and circular economy. He is particularly concerned about how to analyse the interplay between sustainability, collaborative (open) innovation and value chain configurations.

Dr Grace Twiston-Davies is an Impact Fellow at the University of Exeter based. Her work focuses on the behaviours, growth and survival of bumblebees and translating this into decision support tools that can benefit pollinators, farmers, businesses and society.

Fay Kahane is a professional ecological consultant and social scientist interested in interdisciplinary work around plants, pollinators and people. She is currently exploring changing perspectives, values and practices of beekeepers with aims to facilitate co-ordinated, collaborative action for pollinators (managed and wild) and influence policy.

Hugh St Aubyn trained and worked in psychology and psychotherapy over 10 years whilst being a part of a family business in Cornwall. Recently graduating with distinction from the ‘One Planet’ MBA at Exeter University, Hugh now brings together his experience of psychology and business to develop a nuanced consultancy in sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.